India, July 29 -- In a final resolution to the almost two-month-long conflict between the BMC and the sanitation workers union, both parties signed an agreement on Monday. With this, the fears of the BMC's motor loaders-those who tip garbage into compactors-have been laid to rest, while the BMC is free to go ahead with its plan of outsourcing the mammoth task of waste collection and transportation to contractors.

The agreement promises that no sanctioned post of the BMC's sanitation workers will be reduced, and, moreover, those working on contract in the civic body-which the unions say could be up to 8,000 workers-will be given permanent jobs. This will follow after a six-day period of verification of the workers' claims. Their cases in ...